Hair extension

ABSTRACT

A hair extension includes a flexible band carrying pressure clips for attachment of the band to the user&#39;s hair. A plurality of rows including one or more tracks of hair wefts are attached in a spaced apart manner across the band between opposed side edges of the band. The band can be reversible mounted in orientation on a user&#39;s head to vary which of the side edge tracks of hair strands are located outermost in a stacked overlay arrangement of the of the plurality of rows. A cord maybe connected to opposed end edges of the band and disposed around the upper portion of a user&#39;s head to aid in securing the band to the user&#39;s head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATION

This application claims priority benefit to co-pending U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/939,315, filed Feb. 13, 2014, for HAIR EXTENSIONS, the contents which are incorporate herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Hair extensions, primarily for women, have enjoyed increasing popularity in recent times. These hair extensions enable a user with relatively short hair to attach the hair extension to the head so that it appears that the wearer has long hair.

These previously known hair extensions typically comprise an elongated band of material dimensioned so that the band extends around the back and sides of the wearer's head. This band may be constructed of any conventional material, such as strong lace.

Elongated lengths of hair, either real or artificial, are then tied at one end to the band so that the hair extends downwardly from the band. Typically, hair will be attached so that the hair extends entirely across the length of the band.

The free ends of the band are then attached to the user's hair by a stretchy cord that is easily hidden underneath the user's hair. Pressurized clips are then used to secure the bottom of the band to the user's hair. The band itself is then covered by the wearer's hair so that the band is not visible. Consequently, the hair attached to and extending downwardly from the band gives the appearance that the wearer has long hair.

These previously known hair extensions, however, suffer from several shortcomings. One shortcoming is that the hair attached to the band of the previously known hair extensions is of a singular color. Consequently, if the wearer decides to change his or her hair color, it is necessary for the wearer to purchase a separate hair extension. Hair extensions, however, can be relatively expensive in cost thus increasing the cost of changing the color of one's hair.

A still further shortcoming of the previously known hair extensions is that the attachment clips at the opposite ends of the band are fixed in length. While the fixed length attachments for the hair extensions are sufficient for many applications, for some heads they are simply inadequate. Furthermore, these previously known hair extensions with fixed length attachments make it difficult to adjust the vertical position of the band for the hair extension on the user's head.

It would be desirable to provide a hair extension that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known hair extensions.

SUMMARY

A hair extension includes a flexible band. A plurality of pressure clips are affixed to the band adjacent side edges and end edges of the band for mounting the band to user's hair. A plurality of rows of hair wefts are affixed to the band. Each row may include on or more tracks of hair wefts, each track having the same color or a variation in color from the hair wefts in adjacent tracks.

The plurality of rows of hair wefts are affixed to the band adjacent the side edges and intermediate the side edges so that the band can be reversibly oriented on a user's head to vary the stacked arrangement of the hair wefts on the user's head.

The pressure clips can be arranged in symmetrical pairs along the side and end edges of the band. In one aspect, six pressure clips are arranged in three symmetrically arranged pairs on the band.

The hair extension of one or more of the rows includes one or a plurality of hair track.

The hair wefts in each track vary in length from between the end edges of the band in each at least two of the tracks.

Two of the plurality of rows of hair wefts is respectively attached to the opposed side edges of the band to form side edge mounted rows. The side edge mounted rows have the same length extending substantially between the end edges of the band.

A plurality of interior mounted rows are attached to the band and spaced from the side edges of the band. The interior mounted rows have the same or different lengths between the end edges of the band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The various features, advantages, and other uses of the present hair extension will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating reversible side 1 of a completed hair extension;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating reversible side 2 of a completed hair extension;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of one surface of a band of the hair extension showing attachment clips;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing one end of the opposite side of the band illustrating the hair tracks attached to the band;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the attachment of two hair track together and to the band;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing one of the end supports for receiving the attachment cord.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation showing the attachment of multiple hair tracks to the band;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the attachment of additional supports to the band;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the attachment of end cord attachment supports to the band;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view showing the band, hair tracks and attachment cord in an orientation for mounting the hair extension on a user's head; and

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view showing the band, hair tracks and attachment cord in an orientation for mounting the hair extension on a user's head, but showing a reverse mounting orientation of the hair extension on a user's head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference first to FIG. 1, a band 20 for a hair extension is shown. The band 20 is elongated having two ends 22 and 24 which are spaced apart from each other. The band 20 is constructed from a strong lace material 26 for long-term durability. In order to further protect the lace material 26, an edging 28 extends around the entire outer periphery of the lace material 26 and is secured to the lace material 26 in any conventional fashion, such as by stitching.

Still referring to FIG. 1. the band 20 further includes a central protrusion 30 having two ends 32 and 34 which are spaced apart from each other by a distance less than the ends 22 and 24. This central protrusion 30 is smaller. Both in length and width, than the lace material 26 and is also constructed from a strong lace material. An engine 36 is also secured around the protrusion 30 to protect the lace material of the protrusion 30 from fraying. This edging 36 is secured to the protrusion 30 in any conventional fashion, such as by stitching.

A plurality of pressurized clips 40 may be secured to the protrusion 30 on reversible side 1. These pressurized clips 40 provide attachment points for protrusion 30 to be secured to the user's hair.

A plurality of aligned adjustable string support straps 42 are also secured to the band 20 so that the support straps 42 extend along the top of the band 20 and are secured to the band 20 in any conventional fashion, such as by stitching. These support straps 42, furthermore, are aligned with each other and also are aligned with a plurality of eyes 44 which are also secured to the band 20. The purpose of the support straps 42 and eyes 44 will be subsequently described. A support strap 46 is also secured to each end of the band 20 such as to an upper corner of each end 22 and 24 of the band 20.

Hair 50 of one color is then attached in track 51 to the band 20 on reversible side 1 so that the hair 50 has one end attached by any conventional means, such as tying, so that the hair extends along the bottom of the band 20 and the band protrusion 30. The hair 50 can be of a single color and may either be artificial or natural hair.

Additional hair 52 in track 53 also has one end secured across the length of the band 20 on reversible side 1 by any conventional means, such as tying, so that the hair 52 depends downwardly from the band 20. The hair 52, which may be either artificial or natural, is preferably of a different color than the hair 50.

Additional hair 54 in track 55 which may be either the same or a different color than the hair 50 or 52 may also be secured to the band 20 on reversible side 1 so that the hair 54 depends downwardly from the band 20. As before, the hair 54 may be either natural or artificial and is secured to the band 20 in any conventional fashion, such as tying.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a plurality of pressurized clips 60 are preferably secured to the protrusion 30 on reversible side 2. These pressurized clips 40 provide attachment points for protrusion 30 to be secured to the user's hair.

Hair 62 in track 63 of one color is then attached to the band 20 on reversible side 2 so that the hair 62 has one end attached by any conventional means, such as tying, so that the hair extends along the bottom of the band 20 and the band protrusion 30. The hair 62 can be a single color and may either be artificial or natural hair.

Additional hair 64 in track 65 also has one end secured across the length of the band 20 by any conventional means, such as tying, so that the hair 64 depends downwardly from the band 20. The hair 64, which may be either artificial or natural, can be of a different color than the hair 62.

Additional hair 66 in track 67 which may be either the same or a different color than the hair 62 or 64, may also be secured to the band 22 so that the hair 66 depends downwardly from the band 20. As before, the hair 66 may be either natural or artificial and is secured to the band 20 in any conventional fashion, such as tying.

In order to attach the band 20 with its attached hair 50-54 and attached hair 62-66, an elongated attachment stretchy cord 70, which is shown in FIG. 1, is provided. Each end of the attachment stretchy cord 70 is attached to the hook 72 by any conventional means, such as tying around hook 74.

As best shown in FIG. 2, on side 22 of band 20, one side of the attachment stretchy cord 70 and its hook 72 is slidably connected through the support straps 42 and 46 so that one end is connected to the eyes 44 while its other end extends outwardly. The outwardly extending hook 72 will then slidably connect through the support straps 42 and 46 on the side 24 of band 20 and connect to the eyes 44. The hair extension is then secured to the user's hair. Similarly, the fastener 72 extending outwardly from the opposite end of the band 20 is also secured to the user's hair by attaching the hook 72 on the eyes 44. In both cases, the opposite ends of the attachment stretchy cord 70, and thus two hooks 72, will be positioned in the area around the hooks 44 on the band 20.

The attachment stretchy cord 70 is slidably positioned through the support straps 42 straps and 46 and then detachably secured to the eyes 44 thus securing the hair extension to the user's head. However, since a plurality of eyes 44 are provided, the effective length of the attachment stretchy cord 70 may be adjusted by simply attaching the extension cord hook 72 to different eyes 44. This also enables an adjustment of the position of the hair extension on the user's head without varying the attachment of the adjustment cord hooks 72 and their attachment to the user's hair.

Furthermore, since hair of different colors is attached to the band 20, the effective color of the band 20 may be varied by simply reversing the side of the band 20 that faces the user's head. Such reversal of the band 20 also enables the hair extension to simulate highlights in the hair extension.

Refer now to FIGS. 3-11, there is depicted another aspect of a hair extension 100 which provides the same reversible multi-colored features of the hair extension shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The hair extension 100 includes a band 102 having a truncated oblong or oval shape by example. The band 102 includes the first and second long side edges 104 and 106, respectively, interconnected at opposite ends by end edges 108 and 110. The band 102 is formed of a flexible mesh material having a plurality of apertures allowing easy sewing attachment of hair wefts to the band 102.

A plurality of tracks of hair wefts are attached, such as by sewing threads to the band 102. By way of example, the hair extensions 100 has five rows, each including two attached tracks or hair wefts, such as first and second outer side edge rows 112 and 114 and intermediately located rows 116, 118 and 120. Each row 112-120 can include one or two or more tracks of hair wefts attached to each other. Each row 112-120 is then attached to reversible side two of the band 102 forming small ridges 122, 124, 126, 128 and 130 shown in FIG. 3 on the opposite or first side of the band 102.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, each track, such as tracks 113 and 114 are formed of hair wefts which are joined into an elongated shape forming each track 113 and 115. The hair wefts forming each track are stitched together by threads 117. Further, the two tracks 113 and 115 of hair wefts are formed together by stitching 119 to form a complete, integral row.

The side edge rows 112 and 114 may be of the same or different lateral lengths. For example, the side edge rows 112 and 114 have substantially the same length extending the length of the side edges 104 and 106, respectively, of the band 102 between the end edges 108 and 110. The intermediate located rows 116, 118 and 120 may have the same length as the side edge rows 112 and 114 or as shown by example in FIG. 7, shorter lengths with rows 116 and 120 have an identical length and the centrally located row 118 having a shorter length.

As described above, each row 112-120 includes one, two or more hair wefts, with tracks forming each row in the hair extension 110, by example. The hair wefts may be formed of natural or artificial hair and may have varying lengths from the joined ends as well as the same or different colors to provide a layered appearance as well as hair having a variety of tones as would appear in a natural head of hair.

Referring briefly to FIG. 7-10, it can be seen that the lengths of the hair wefts in each row may be cut or formed to extend in either a straight, curly, or cut-curved shape. Wefts are cut or shaped to extend in one side direction from the band 102. In one orientation of the band 102, as described hereafter, on the user's head, hair wefts curve to the right, as shown in FIG. 11. When the band 102 is reversed in orientation on the user's head, the hair weft will extend to the left. This enables the user to change the style of her hair merely by reversing orientation of the band 102 on the user's head.

Again, by example, the side row 112 may be formed of hair wefts having a uniformed dark color, such as dark brunette. The adjacent interior row 116 may have two tracks, with one track being the same dark color as the hair wefts used in the track 112 and the other track, located away from the side edge row 112 being of a slightly lighter color.

The centrally located row 118 may be formed of two tracks of hair wefts, with one track, closer to the side edge row 112 being of the same darker color hair as the side edge row 112 and the other track closer to the opposed side edge row 114 being of lighter hair color. The next interior row 120 may be formed of two rows of the dark colored hair wefts. The side edge row 114 may be formed of two tracks of the lighter color hair strands. It will be understood that the above example uses the simplistic terms “dark” and “light”. It will be understood that these terms represent variations in the color of the hair wefts and there may be slight variations in the color of the hair wefts in each dark hair wefts in any track or each light hair weft of any track.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, flexible support 130 and 132 are attached, such as by adhesive or sewing to side 103 of the band 102 extending substantially between the indentation 122 and 130 formed by the side edge tracks. The supports 130 and 132 aid in maintaining the structure of the band 102 when the band 102 is applied to a user's head.

FIG. 9 depicts the addition of end supports 134 and 136 to side 105 of the band 102. The end supports 134 and 136 are located adjacent to the end edges 108 and 110, respectively.

A plurality of pressure clips are attached to side 105 of the band 102, as shown in FIG. 3 at various locations to enable a user to attach the band 102 to the user's actually hair.

Each pressure clip has a generally concave shape which enables the tines to be snapped to an open position away from the frame of the clip to allow the clip to be inserted around a portion of the user's hair. The tines are then snapped closed to attach the clip to the user's hair.

Although the clips may be disposed at any location around the periphery of the band 102, due to the reversible nature of the band 102 on the user's head, the clips are provided in symmetrically located, opposed hairs. For example, in the six clip aspect shown by example in FIG. 3, two clips 160 form a pair of clips mounted on the end edges 108 and 110 of the band 102. Another pair of clips 164 are mounted a spaced location from the one end located edge clip 160. Similarly, another pair of clips 166 is mounted in a spaced location on the side edges of 104 and 106 of the band 102 spaced from the opposed end located edge clip 160. In this matter, the band 102, with multiple rows of hair tracks attached thereto, can be mounted in one orientation with the side edge row 112 located uppermost towards the top of the user's head and the opposed side edge row 114 located towards the lower portion of the user's head. Alternately, the orientation of the band 102 may be reversed so that the side edge row 114 is located towards the upper portion of the user's head and the opposed side edge row 112 is located towards the lower portion of the user's head.

This illustrates a unique feature of the hair extension 100 since the various rows 112-120 are formed of different colored hair. In the first orientation with the side edge row 112 located uppermost on the user's head, the darker colored tracks, described above by example, overlay all of the other rows 114, 116, 118 and 120.

In the alternate orientation of the band 102, with the side edge row 114 located uppermost, the lighter color hair tracks forming the side edge row 114 are located outermost and overlay the hair wefts in the remaining rows 112, 116, 118 and 120.

This reversible feature allows a user to change her hair color by a slight amount merely by the changing orientation of the band 102 on her head.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 10, each end support 134 and 136 has outer end portions which are fixed to the band 102 by suitable methods, such as by stitching. The center portion 138 of each end support 134 and 136 is spaced from the underlying band 102 to form a slot 140.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an optional flexible cord 160, formed of a suitable material, such as plastic fishing line, has opposed ends 162 and 164 inserted and looped around the slot 160 of each end support 134 and 136. The ends 162 and 164 of the cord 160 are then locked to the cord 160 by a lock device, such as a crimp lock 166. The flexible yet fixed attachment of the ends 162 and 164 of the cord 160 to the band 102 enables the cord 102 to rotate from side edge to side edge of the band 102 depending upon the orientation of the band 102 when mounted on a user's head.

The above-described hair extension 100 has the band 102 formed in a length from end edges 108 and 110 so as to extend from ear to ear when mounted on a user's head. It will be understood that smaller length bands may be employed to form partial lengths or side extensions which the user can attach using the same band, clip, and reversibly arranged rows of track-contained hair wefts at any location on the back of the user's head. The smaller hair extension can be used for styling purposes or to enable the user to cover a small thinning portion of the user's hair. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair extension comprising: a flexible band having opposed side edges and opposed end edges; a plurality of pressure clips affixed to the band for mounting the band on a user's hair; a plurality of rows of hair wefts affixed to the band, each row having the same color or a variation in color from the hair wefts in adjacent rows; and the plurality of rows of hair wefts affixed to the band adjacent side edges and intermediate the side edges of the band, so that the band can be reversibly oriented on a user's head to vary the stacked arrangement of the hair wefts in the rows so that the rows of hair wefts are arranged in a first stacked arrangement in a first orientation of the band and a second stacked arrangement in a reversed orientation of the band.
 2. The hair extension of claim 1 wherein: the pressure clips are arranged in symmetrical pairs along the side edges and end edges of the band.
 3. The hair extension of claim 2 further comprising: six pressure clips arranged in three symmetrically arranged pairs of pressure clips on the band.
 4. The hair extension of claim 1 wherein: at least one of the rows includes at least two tracks of hair wefts.
 5. The hair extension of claim 1 wherein: at least one row includes a plurality of tracks of hair wefts.
 6. The hair extension of claim 1 wherein: the hair wefts forming each track vary in length in each at least two of the tracks.
 7. The hair extension of claim 1 further comprising: the plurality of rows having at least one of the same and different lengths between the end edges of the band.
 8. The hair extension of claim 7 further comprising: two of the plurality of rows respectively attached to the opposed side edges of the band to form side edge mounted rows, the side edge mounted rows having the same length extending substantially between the end edges of the band.
 9. The hair extension of claim 7 further comprising: a plurality of interior mounted rows attached to the band and spaced from the side edges of the band.
 10. The hair extension of claim 9 wherein: the interior mounted rows have the same or different lengths between the end edges of the band.
 11. The hair extension of claim 1, further comprising: a cord affixed to the end edges of the band. 